This article recounts my journey as a scientist in the early days of extracellular matrix research through the discovery of fibronectin, the RGD sequence as a key recognition motif in fibronectin and other adhesion proteins, and isolation and cloning of integrins. I also discuss more recent work on identification of molecular “zip codes” by screening of peptide libraries expressed on phage, which led us right back to RGD and integrins. Many disease-specific zip codes have turned out to be based on altered expression of extracellular matrix molecules and integrins. Homing peptides and antibodies recognizing zip code molecules are being used in drug delivery applications, some of which have advanced into clinical trials.

中文翻译：

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我的细胞外基质科学之旅


本文讲述了我作为一名科学家在早期细胞外基质研究中的历程，包括发现纤连蛋白、作为纤连蛋白和其他粘附蛋白关键识别基序的 RGD 序列，以及整合素的分离和克隆。我还讨论了最近通过筛选噬菌体表达的肽库来识别分子“邮政编码”的工作，这让我们回到了 RGD 和整合素。事实证明，许多疾病特异性邮政编码是基于细胞外基质分子和整合素表达的改变。识别邮政编码分子的归巢肽和抗体正在用于药物输送应用，其中一些已进入临床试验。